Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-26

aQ-yOu COuSiUeT lQaL UeLrlueQLdl Ions
dale more attractive, have no doubt?"
said he, with what ne meant to be grim
contempt.
"Well, uncle" replied Melanie, little
defsntly, "between rich bores and pleas
ing 'detrimentals,' q poor girl, such as l.,
has hard game to play"
"Then play it well. He is E. match, Sir
Brisco -"
"Vulgarly, 4 catch, were nearer the
truth, uncle" interrupted melsuie, irri-
tated at the manner in which Lonsdale's
name vas Introduced.
"A1d this so-called engagement Of
yours" began her uncle, with with
ering glance.
$50 called" interrupted Melanie again
"Don't speak Of it SO, uncle. Will not
have it m.ce public property. do not
want people interfering, advising ard
meddIiDg-"
"Or congratulsting You," said he with
a bitter laugh. "FeW people who know
our circumstances would De mean euouSh
to do that"
Uncle G:inshew had not, even ST first,
been disposed to do more than simply
tolerate the idee of Montague LOnsdale's
intentions: but now the letter OF Mrs.
Chillington, telling him Of Melanie'S ''dis-
graceful contumacy," and the necessity
Of putting some pressure upon her Ia the
matter OF Sir BcisCo Braybrooke, made
him almost savage.
"The attentions OF Sir Bgisco gre an
honor to our family" seid he loftily.
"Tnen | wish he would turn them 20
Aunt Chlllirgton, end prop use to her"
''Do not dare 10 tribe with me-" said
I MF. GFimshaW, raspipg up his side tufts
and polishing mis- bald head, as be walked
/ up and down the room. ''Ph.s fancy Of
! yours for Oil &Il but penniIess mal must
! be conquered"
! SIT cannot be-" said Mela2ie, softly, as
her eyes filed with tears.
/ "Why-why?"
SIT is part Of my existence"
"Stuff."
Then alter an angry pause he added,
"Well-t-shTCugn your cOntUmaCy, SO
/ your Aunt Cniilington very properly
! terms it, we are ID have this fellow,
/ Lonsdale, or The tapis, and the b&ronet
hears of the matter, your chances will be
! lost. In that event | shall have nothing
more to say Ga the matter" he con-
tinued, in tone which implied ne could
say a great deal mere if he chose. "You
are rash, foolish, headstrOng, and utterly
selfish"
Melsnie felt all the humilistion Of her
position, end sighed in silence.
81 have been kind 10 you, l suppose?"
said he, thinking thet she IVES softeniDg.
ooh, yes, Uncle Grimshaw," replied
Melanie, with bitter smile, which he
was not slow 10 detect.
"Have treated you quite ike daugh-
/ ter, iudGed but this kind Of thing can
not 90 on foTeyer-Can rot 90 on for
ever" he repeated, gehenently, thinking
only Of "the handful" his sister orphans
we're, and not OF their trust-morey,
which had slipped through his fingers in
Blchin-lane.
! Cold and selfish to the hearts core, he
felt no soft or real regard for the
beautiful girl cast by hard fate on his
hands; end Gs for her brothers, Dick was
ever worry, and the helpless "cripple'
q source OF losthing rather than pity.
To refuse such en- offer as that OF Sir
/ Brisco, seemed, IN his estimation, con-
/ duct without parallel in eli the legends OF
children, especially nephews and niecea,
who have been poor, undutiful and IN
grateful.
Love was very Door stuff indeed Il
never occurred to him that anything SO
intensely absurd, 50 utterly secondary,
/ should come into competition with E20,-
600 year!
"Beggars VINO owe their food and shell
ter to others should not be so difficult to
please" ssid he, with intense bitterness
and concentrated fury, while his
pale grey eyes If grey they
were - glitte1ed ike icicles in
the lsmphgnt; land l shall lessen the
burden put upon me in one way he
added, with reference to the Pre- ssure to
be put upon Melanie. off, Within given
time, you do not marry Sir Brtsco, and
thus take Off mY hands your brother Re-
ginald, ne shall 60 straight from here 10
the ward of common hospital"
And with this singing threat, which
flied her afec>ionate heart with new ter
ror snda dismsy, he Quilted the room,
and fariously banged the door behind
him.
To be contained merit lceeI.l